Poncharal reviews Edwards podium tension

An exuberant Herve Poncharal saw Tech 3 Yamaha new addition Colin Edwards restore some home pride at Le Mans last weekend, although the `Texan Tornado´ gave his boss some nail-biting moments.

A first podium with new addition Colin Edwards –at their home track no less- was an obvious highlight of Tech 3 Yamaha´s 2008 season opening. The American´s rostrum finish was their first at Le Mans since 2003, and left Team Principal Herve Poncharal understandably delighted.

`I´m so happy,´ exclaimed the Frenchman after Edwards completed the all-Yamaha top three. `China was a big disappointment; we didn´t say too much at the time, but Colin promised me that he would do something special here. He had a great race.´

Edwards had assured victory to his boss in the days prior to the French race, but his pace was slowed up in a race-long battle and he had to settle for the nonetheless highly satisfying podium. However, the race was not without its nervous moments for those in the Tech 3 Yamaha garage.

`Colin had a great race, but I was a bit scared when he had difficulty passing Casey Stoner and other riders began to catch up,´ confessed Poncharal.

`I knew that when he had nobody in front of him then it would not be a problem, even with Dani Pedrosa behind him. The race could have been even better, but I am really happy with a podium.

`Now as a team we are level on points with Ducati Marlboro, which is a great performance,´ beamed the Tech 3 head, whose riders Edwards and James Toseland have started strong with the satellite Yamaha outfit.